Editorial: No surprise on fiscal stress list

The state comptroller has released his list of governments in New York under fiscal stress, those struggling to raise the revenue they need for the services they have to deliver. The list has three levels: significant, meaning that there's a problem now; moderate, meaning that there is some trouble now and could be more; and ...

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Posted Jun. 20, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Posted Jun. 20, 2013 at 2:00 AM

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The state comptroller has released his list of governments in New York under fiscal stress, those struggling to raise the revenue they need for the services they have to deliver. The list has three levels: significant, meaning that there's a problem now; moderate, meaning that there is some trouble now and could be more; and susceptible, meaning that there could be a problem depending on what happens, including things out of the government's control.

It's a valuable tool from the Albany point of view because it helps focus the attention of the state where it might be needed to manage a government out of fiscal danger, especially if those in charge have not shown the courage or wisdom to make the necessary decisions.

The good news is that no local towns or cities in Orange, Sullivan or Ulster counties show up on any of the lists. But all three counties do in different ways.

Sullivan is on the list of those susceptible to fiscal stress, a finding that will come as no surprise to anybody who has paid attention to the budget struggles there. Ulster is listed as under review, meaning that the comptroller is still crunching the numbers. Stay tuned.

Then there is Orange County. Although it had the same 120 days from the end of the fiscal year to provide the comptroller with the numbers, it is on the short list of counties, towns and cities called "not yet filed."